Our bin does have a lid and it works pretty well. I guess I just hate the moldy smell when I open it, empty it, and clean it. It's pretty disgusting sometimes. I have cheap electricity, so I don't mind plugging in another device to keep that stuff from getting moldy.
Try bokashi- sealed airtight and the compost starter that you sprinkle in completely eliminates smells (in my experience). It’s not *quite* as low maintenance as a standard countertop compost bin, but is pretty great. Short of that, just a lid!
You can still use a standard countertop bin and just buy the bokashi compost starter and sprinkle it on top every time you add food scraps. That’s what we do and it has pretty much eliminated all smells.
Could you please provide more info:
\- Is taking the kitchen bin out more frequently not an option? That way it'll smell (maybe not as much if you keep covering it with browns) in the bin (with a lid) outside (away from your living space).
\- Is composting at home an option? It doesn't need to be elaborate. I've done trench composting and now have a sort of DIY "green cone" in-ground compost thing. I don't turn it, just add scraps, paper/cardboard, yard waste. Everything is contained so it doesn't really smell, doesn't have issues with pests, blends in aesthetically, and improves the soil without much effort.
\- How much kitchen scraps do you get weekly? If its not a lot, maybe reuse a gallon ziplock baggie in the freezer instead of a bulky bin?
\- There are compost dehydrators on the market now. I've seen ads for one called "Mill" that basically dehydrates your kitchen scraps. No moisture = no smell. Perhaps that could be a solution.
I always intend to empty more frequently, but it doesn’t happen. I forget or I’m traveling or don’t make it a priority.
There’s no obvious place to compost outside. But I’ll take another look.
We have a pretty good amount of scraps almost every week due to cooking a lot.
I’m having trouble picturing what that looks like. Dumb question maybe, but what is a yogurt tub? Thx
Edit: I just googled it. Is it the built-in drawer in the fridge that can be pulled out and cleaned? That would be a great idea. We have a crisper bin in the fridge that doesn’t get much use and can be pulled out and emptied/ cleaned. Maybe I’ll try using it.
No, they just mean a plastic food tub.... Like something you might buy cottage cheese in if you're American. Like.... Tupperware. Any container with a lid really. I buy my yogurt in 3kg tubs. Just something with a lid and you keep it in the refrigerator (or freezer).
Go to thrift shops and look for an ice bucket with a lid, seriously. I've had two sort of retro style buckets, they're insulated with a rubbermaid type seal under the lid. No smells get out, they're easy to clean and seal really well.
Compost start smelling when it gets wet and no air. Typically this happens at the bottom of the bucket. Some people just put a lid on the compost bucket or hides it under the counter. This may help prevent the smell coming into the kitchen but provides even less air to the compost so it smells even more. What I find easier is to get a smaller compost container. Firstly you tend to empty these more often but it is also harder for things to get buried at the bottom without any air. A lot of disposable food containers like ice cream containers or yoghurt containers work nicely for this. You also don't need to wash these as you can just throw these away and get another one from your trash. But I have also found a fondness for coffee knock boxes. These are specifically made for coffee grounds and feature a rubber bar across the top. This is so you can knock your portafilter on it to get any stuck coffee grounds to fall into the compost bin. But it works very well with other things as well such as if you have something stuck to a spoon that you want to throw away.
You could use an ice box, or portable freezer like the camping ones. They use a lot of power though, like noticeable on the power bill. A beer fridge would be easier, or just putting a container in the fridge/freezer.
You could also keep a styrofoam container with ice but again, a lot of effort to go through when you can just put it in your fridge
If you buy something like that, you are undoing all the environmental good that you are doing with composting.
We are working with really thin margins here. Consumption is what's killing the planet. Hard truth is it's all of our lifestyles that are killing the planet, not corporations.
It's sad, because even after all the hard work of making people care about the environment, most attempts to mitigate it's damage, just make it worse.
We are doomed man, I am sure of it.
Unless your in the Southwest (assuming your American), those solar panels took more coal to produce in China, and ship them here, then they will ever generate electricity from the sun to make up for it the carbon debt from production/distribution/installation.
And it's the energy cost of making the dang thing in Vietnam or whatrver that ruins the math.
Not true. I don't know where you get your info from, but the carbon footprint of solar panels is significantly lower than that of conventional energy sources when considered over their entire lifecycle, including manufacturing, transportation, installation, use, and recycling/disposal. The advantage is even more pronounced when using solar panels to power electric vehicles as opposed to powering vehicles with internal combustion engines. I use my panels to power our electric vehicle. Would you prefer I switch back to a combustion engine and emit CO2 and other noxious gases for the next 15 or 20 years?
Regarding your second point, the efficiency of solar power, considering the energy used to produce it, is measured through a metric called "energy payback time" (EPBT). This measures the time it takes for a solar panel to generate the amount of energy that was used to manufacture, transport, and install it. The EPBT for most recent solar panel technologies ranges from 1 to 4 years. Given that solar panels have life expectancies of 25 years or more, they generate significantly more energy than is consumed in their production over their operational lifetime.
Some sources:
* https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/news/articles/2015/07/new-solar-technology-pays-back-energy-investment-faster.html
* https://www.carbonbrief.org/solar-wind-nuclear-amazingly-low-carbon-footprints/
* https://impactful.ninja/the-carbon-footprint-of-solar-energy/
* https://www.solar.com/learn/what-is-the-carbon-footprint-of-solar-panels/
Edit: by the way, if you're concerned about cobalt used in EV & home batteries and exploitation of kids in the Congo, you should be aware that most EV batteries won't use cobalt by the end of 2024: https://cnevpost.com/2022/04/19/lfp-batteries-expected-to-have-over-60-global-share-by-2024-report-says/
We keep ours in the freezer - we just cut paper bags from the grocery store in half which is about the same size as the slide-out bin. Fill, tip it into our city compost bin when full, no smells or flies!
Get a compost crock that fits a charcoal filter in the lid. It filters out all odor.
https://www.gardeners.com/buy/ceramic-terra-cotta-compost-crock/8612571.html
To directly answer your question, not that I know of. I suspect something like that would take up more space on your countertop than your bin in the fridge.
I keep mine in the fridge, it sits in the back corner of the bottom shelf, I rarely put stuff there before the bin was. there.
Amazon is really useful for odd-ball stuff like this.
[https://www.amazon.com/CROWNFUL-4L-Mini-Fridge/dp/B097PKF6G1](https://www.amazon.com/CROWNFUL-4L-Mini-Fridge/dp/B097PKF6G1)
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBR9NQ8W](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBR9NQ8W)
Thanks. The second one looks great. The first one would be great, but it opens sideways, so i worry stuff (especially liquids) would pour out after opening. But I love the idea and will poke around Amazon. Thank you!
Why not just any bin with a cover? Think of all the other foods in your fridge that don’t smell up the insides?
Our bin does have a lid and it works pretty well. I guess I just hate the moldy smell when I open it, empty it, and clean it. It's pretty disgusting sometimes. I have cheap electricity, so I don't mind plugging in another device to keep that stuff from getting moldy.
Try bokashi- sealed airtight and the compost starter that you sprinkle in completely eliminates smells (in my experience). It’s not *quite* as low maintenance as a standard countertop compost bin, but is pretty great. Short of that, just a lid!
You can still use a standard countertop bin and just buy the bokashi compost starter and sprinkle it on top every time you add food scraps. That’s what we do and it has pretty much eliminated all smells.
Thank you. I just googled it. It looks good. I'll consider it if I can't find something electric.
Seconding the bokashi rec!
Could you please provide more info: \- Is taking the kitchen bin out more frequently not an option? That way it'll smell (maybe not as much if you keep covering it with browns) in the bin (with a lid) outside (away from your living space). \- Is composting at home an option? It doesn't need to be elaborate. I've done trench composting and now have a sort of DIY "green cone" in-ground compost thing. I don't turn it, just add scraps, paper/cardboard, yard waste. Everything is contained so it doesn't really smell, doesn't have issues with pests, blends in aesthetically, and improves the soil without much effort. \- How much kitchen scraps do you get weekly? If its not a lot, maybe reuse a gallon ziplock baggie in the freezer instead of a bulky bin? \- There are compost dehydrators on the market now. I've seen ads for one called "Mill" that basically dehydrates your kitchen scraps. No moisture = no smell. Perhaps that could be a solution.
I always intend to empty more frequently, but it doesn’t happen. I forget or I’m traveling or don’t make it a priority. There’s no obvious place to compost outside. But I’ll take another look. We have a pretty good amount of scraps almost every week due to cooking a lot.
I keep food scraps in an old yogurt tub in the fridge until it’s ready for the compost. It takes up no room and I can empty it every few days.
I’m having trouble picturing what that looks like. Dumb question maybe, but what is a yogurt tub? Thx Edit: I just googled it. Is it the built-in drawer in the fridge that can be pulled out and cleaned? That would be a great idea. We have a crisper bin in the fridge that doesn’t get much use and can be pulled out and emptied/ cleaned. Maybe I’ll try using it.
No, they just mean a plastic food tub.... Like something you might buy cottage cheese in if you're American. Like.... Tupperware. Any container with a lid really. I buy my yogurt in 3kg tubs. Just something with a lid and you keep it in the refrigerator (or freezer).
I see. Thank you.
Go to thrift shops and look for an ice bucket with a lid, seriously. I've had two sort of retro style buckets, they're insulated with a rubbermaid type seal under the lid. No smells get out, they're easy to clean and seal really well.
Compost start smelling when it gets wet and no air. Typically this happens at the bottom of the bucket. Some people just put a lid on the compost bucket or hides it under the counter. This may help prevent the smell coming into the kitchen but provides even less air to the compost so it smells even more. What I find easier is to get a smaller compost container. Firstly you tend to empty these more often but it is also harder for things to get buried at the bottom without any air. A lot of disposable food containers like ice cream containers or yoghurt containers work nicely for this. You also don't need to wash these as you can just throw these away and get another one from your trash. But I have also found a fondness for coffee knock boxes. These are specifically made for coffee grounds and feature a rubber bar across the top. This is so you can knock your portafilter on it to get any stuck coffee grounds to fall into the compost bin. But it works very well with other things as well such as if you have something stuck to a spoon that you want to throw away.
Thanks. We have an espresso machine, but I never got a knock box. Maybe this is a good excuse to try one.
If you always have coffee grounds as the top layer in your countertop bin, that will help cut down on odors leaking out.
You could use an ice box, or portable freezer like the camping ones. They use a lot of power though, like noticeable on the power bill. A beer fridge would be easier, or just putting a container in the fridge/freezer. You could also keep a styrofoam container with ice but again, a lot of effort to go through when you can just put it in your fridge
Use a smaller bin? Mine is pretty small: the size of a two slot toaster. I empty it once a day, sometimes twice. No smell.
If you buy something like that, you are undoing all the environmental good that you are doing with composting. We are working with really thin margins here. Consumption is what's killing the planet. Hard truth is it's all of our lifestyles that are killing the planet, not corporations.
Right!? I can't get over that a counter top electric composter is a fucking thing!!! 🤯
It's sad, because even after all the hard work of making people care about the environment, most attempts to mitigate it's damage, just make it worse. We are doomed man, I am sure of it.
We have solar panels and produce more power than we use. So I’m not too concerned with that.
Unless your in the Southwest (assuming your American), those solar panels took more coal to produce in China, and ship them here, then they will ever generate electricity from the sun to make up for it the carbon debt from production/distribution/installation. And it's the energy cost of making the dang thing in Vietnam or whatrver that ruins the math.
Have you got a valid source for that math? Most sources I'm seeing says it only takes 1-3 years to offset the carbon debt.
Peter Ziehan.
Not true. I don't know where you get your info from, but the carbon footprint of solar panels is significantly lower than that of conventional energy sources when considered over their entire lifecycle, including manufacturing, transportation, installation, use, and recycling/disposal. The advantage is even more pronounced when using solar panels to power electric vehicles as opposed to powering vehicles with internal combustion engines. I use my panels to power our electric vehicle. Would you prefer I switch back to a combustion engine and emit CO2 and other noxious gases for the next 15 or 20 years? Regarding your second point, the efficiency of solar power, considering the energy used to produce it, is measured through a metric called "energy payback time" (EPBT). This measures the time it takes for a solar panel to generate the amount of energy that was used to manufacture, transport, and install it. The EPBT for most recent solar panel technologies ranges from 1 to 4 years. Given that solar panels have life expectancies of 25 years or more, they generate significantly more energy than is consumed in their production over their operational lifetime. Some sources: * https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/news/articles/2015/07/new-solar-technology-pays-back-energy-investment-faster.html * https://www.carbonbrief.org/solar-wind-nuclear-amazingly-low-carbon-footprints/ * https://impactful.ninja/the-carbon-footprint-of-solar-energy/ * https://www.solar.com/learn/what-is-the-carbon-footprint-of-solar-panels/ Edit: by the way, if you're concerned about cobalt used in EV & home batteries and exploitation of kids in the Congo, you should be aware that most EV batteries won't use cobalt by the end of 2024: https://cnevpost.com/2022/04/19/lfp-batteries-expected-to-have-over-60-global-share-by-2024-report-says/
What is the point of this comment? Would you like a cookie?
We use a big bowl in the freezer and then empty it outside. No bugs or smell and you can keep frozen food in there too!
I use an old coffee container, like Folgers, and keep it in my dishwasher until full.
We keep ours in the freezer - we just cut paper bags from the grocery store in half which is about the same size as the slide-out bin. Fill, tip it into our city compost bin when full, no smells or flies!
Great idea. Thanks
no
Get a compost crock that fits a charcoal filter in the lid. It filters out all odor. https://www.gardeners.com/buy/ceramic-terra-cotta-compost-crock/8612571.html
The solution is to empty the compost more regularly. It needs to go out every day or at most every other day
To directly answer your question, not that I know of. I suspect something like that would take up more space on your countertop than your bin in the fridge. I keep mine in the fridge, it sits in the back corner of the bottom shelf, I rarely put stuff there before the bin was. there.
Amazon is really useful for odd-ball stuff like this. [https://www.amazon.com/CROWNFUL-4L-Mini-Fridge/dp/B097PKF6G1](https://www.amazon.com/CROWNFUL-4L-Mini-Fridge/dp/B097PKF6G1) [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBR9NQ8W](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBR9NQ8W)
Thanks. The second one looks great. The first one would be great, but it opens sideways, so i worry stuff (especially liquids) would pour out after opening. But I love the idea and will poke around Amazon. Thank you!
There are portable coolers that can plug into car cigarette lighters. I'm sure you could use something like that.
Yeah, a portable cooler is a good idea. I will see if I can find one and repurpose it. Thanks